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Theresa Malijan, a registered nurse, completes taking a nasopharyngeal swab from a patient at a drive-through COVID-19 testing station for University of Washington Medicine patients, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Seattle. Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

Number Of COVID-19 Cases In Wisconsin Rises To 72, DHS Says

Increased Cases Identified In Milwaukee, Dane, Kenosha Counties

By WPR Staff

Published:

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 2:25pm

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The state Department of Health Services announced Tuesday afternoon that there are now 72 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

This follows 47 cases that DHS officials announced on Monday. Of the new cases, 11 were found in Milwaukee County, nine were in Dane County and four were in Kenosha County.

DHS officials said that in terms of the Milwaukee, Dane and Kenosha cases, "community spread has been identified," meaning the new coronavirus appears to be spreading person to person.

Some of the people diagnosed with the disease so far are hospitalized in critical condition. One person has recovered.

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As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases by county is:

Milwaukee, 24

Fond du Lac, 11

Dane, 19

Sheboygan, 3

Waukesha, 4

Winnebago, 3

Kenosha 4

Outagamie, 1

Pierce, 1

Racine, 1

Wood, 1

The news comes a week after Evers declared a public health emergency in the state of Wisconsin. Over the weekend, Evers lifted weight restrictions on trucks so grocery stores could restock depleted shelves as people stockpile food, medicine and other supplies.

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